Will it Never End?! - Hobby Challenge Update

So we started our latest hobby challenge this month and with the Forge World Open Day painting comp approaching I was spurred on to complete some of it in mega quick time! I took some photos of my entries, the banner bearer and rhino were two of my hobby challenge items (although I didn't enter the tank in the end as I didn't think it was good enough).

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out, some of my best work to date. Having a challenge with some friends and a painting competition on the horizon really push you to develop your skills.

With the rhino I wanted to try my hand at stencilling again, and having large flat areas on a tank really allow you to give this a shot. I printed out a Grey Hunter icon from the internet an cut it out with a scalpel. I then stuck it to the tank with masking tape and used a sponge to dap thinned red paint over the area.

 

There were a few issues with the stencil but some battle damage soon hid these :-)

This is Hvarl Red-Blade, my wolf lord. I took his name from the Wolf King novella (he doesn't actually seem to appear in the novel, despite being named). I figured they are unlikely to release a miniature for him so I had a named character, yet had free reign to depict him as I wished.

 

You may notice that despite being named 'Red-Blade' he has a hammer. I liked that hammer (A mash up of the limited edition boarding marine head and the shaft from a thunderwolf cavalry hammer/axe), so strapped a sword to his back. This is a Wolf Lord that picks the best weapon for the task at hand (smashing Thousand Sons witches in this instance).

 

I really pushed a lot of boundaries and tried a few new things out with this guy. The weathering powder, transfers, gem paints, open source lighting, blood... the only thing I still can't do is eyes.

 

Here's one of my dreadnoughts. He was the first 30k miniature I painted, based on an image from Collected Visions. Buy he needed an update, so I have swapped his base, added some more decals, weathering powder and highlights. I still love him. That image from Collected Visions is one of my favourites.

 

Lastly is my banner bearer. This is the first time I have ever applied a banner-specific transfer to a banner (from the new Space Wolves transfer sheet), and man I think it went pretty well.

I like having dead XVth legion marines at the feet of my  Space Wolves as red is my spot colour, so it ties in well.

 

Let me know what you think

 

Dave

Will It Never End? Hobby Challenge Update - Rich update 1

The idea for this challenge was conceived around a month ago and it served as serious inspiration for me from the get -go. So my collection of models had a head start on the challenge itself. Both my medics have been screaming at me to paint them for so long and now was the time, so I have finished them off this week!

Why I needed these models
I needed these models in my force as I combine them in an Imperial Fist Stone Gauntlet list. The apothecary joins a squad of breachers which gives Feel No Pain to a T5, 3+5++(6++) set of models. They are hard to kill and can hold their own, or kick some ass as the need arises, and for some time now I've been fielding them unpainted which is really bugging me. In fact recently, Jame declared that he would no longer field incomplete models and now that my painted 30k force has got up to a decent size I will be adopting the same approach.  I also combine them with my ThunderHammer StormShield Terminators for a set of 2+3++ unit with FNP - they are rally hard to shift for an opponent!

Painting white
I've been a fan of painting white for many years now, ever since I bought an airbrush (or used a spray
can of Corax White which is excellent), because you can show off so much in the way of weathering, chipping and varying colours - even on a model as small as an Astartes. The better power armours for this are typically Mk IV upwards as they have some larger flatter surface areas which provide the perfect 'canvas' but the earlier Mks are great for the jointing in the armour which takes washes and chipping well too.

I sprayed them white, sealed them with gloss varnish and then used a black/burnt amber oil wash mixed with odourless spirits. I then added the decals, gel paints, details, weathering etc before sealing them with satin varnish to give them a very satisfying matt look.

For weathering I used Forgeworld weathering powders dry mud and fresh mud. I also used a little black pain on the end of a fine brush to add in the chips and scratches.

Trying out the new gel paints
I used new GW gel paints on these guys and am fairly pleased. Its hard to describe what kind of paint this is, sort of a gross between a clear paint and a coloured varnish which is extra gloopy! I used them on the cabling to try and get a sense that the cables/vials were clear glass with a coloured liquid inside. I think they did ok. I also tried mixing them and got a nice purple colour to put on a couple of vials (see photo). Dave, has also heard that people are diluting them (with Lahriman medium?) and painting them on power swords to get a cool effect, I will be looking into that.


Modelling the bases
I tried out something new here with the base. I got some plasticard and used a ruler and blade to score a tiled floor into it, then cut out the shape of the base and stuck it on. I painted it light grey and washed it with nuln oil. I then added a few dry brush highlights to draw attention to
it. Not a bad first attempt, I think I need to go back and wash in some back to make the gaps between tiles stand out more but am pretty happy with it.



Inspiration
I researched for a while and could see that there were cases of apothecary being garbed in all white, pure legion colours and a mix of the two, as i said above, Ive always loved painting white so that was
a no-brainer for me.


Anyways, let me know what you think, and let me know how love painted your apothecary... from one medic to another!

Hobby Challenge - Will it ever end? Latecomer!

I've got a confession to make, I never completed the last challenge! I got up to the oil wash stage on my Spartan which would have left some chipping and a bit of a dusting with earth weathering powders on the lower chassis. Even though I didn't quite complete, the challenge pushed me on way quicker than doing it on my own, which is the point really and I'll get onto it soon, honest! 

I have to admit to being a bit of a butterfly at times with my projects, I can't remember what derailed the Spartan, most likely is that I went away with work, took a small model and paints and then got obsessed with that. Next came Sigismund and now I am back looking at the unfinished projects I have to work on. There would have been a time that I was pretty annoyed at myself for not being a complete finisher on these but nowadays I get so little time to myself that I am just happy to be painting....anything!

Looking at the workbench I have the following models started:-
- 2 x apothecaries 
- standard bearer
- office with power sword
- 3 x rapier quad mortar
- Spartan
- Sicarian
- Contemptor Mortis w Kheres

Now some of these are near completion than others, for example the Spartan is maybe 80% and the Mortis is 95% done. But I think this challenge needs some models that are in earlier stages, they'd be too easy.

I am going to push myself here and take on 3 new projects to get the creative juices going... 

- The apothecaries because I field them in every army list and have I have committed to myself to never fielding anything that isn't at least 80% complete on the tabletop. 
- The standard bearer, because I was crazy inspired by Dave's work on his recently and last of all 
- the three quad mortars because I need them in the game! 

That's a lot to get through although at least the medics and standard bearer are already assembled and base coated so I have a head start there. The quad mortars will be starting from scratch...I will keep you posted along the way....

Hobby Challenge: Will it Never End? - Part 1

After the general success of our last hobby challenge, the Spartan Challenge, I managed to finish my Spartan (funny that...). And although not all of us quite finished our challenge project, we did all make some good progress, so we thought it was time set ourselves another challenge.

It is always good to get something finished, and I bet us Dads aren't the only ones that have half-finished projects sitting in lonely corners waiting to be completed, so this time round we're starting the "Will it Never End?" challenge. The plan is to each pick something that has been half-finished then passed over for something new and exciting.

I think the deadline for this challenge is September 1st 2016. That gives us the best part of the summer holidays to get our respective units completed.

Here we'll each introduce our chosen subject:

Dave

I'm going for a couple of things whilst still awaiting the FW Space Wolves transfer sheet to start pushing things off the other side of my painting table :
Heavy weapons squad: new bases, 2 new guys to complete the ten man squad and a couple of new shoulder pads. Not much and a squad I select pretty much every time I play, so it'll be good to get these guys completed.
Rhino: I've got six of these unpainted, so it'll be great to get one finished and provide a ride for my heavy weapons squad
Banner Bearer: He's half done and just needs the details. It'll be good to get the banner bearer for my company completed
Eldar Harlequin: My wife brought me this two years ago as something different to paint... I just wanna get him finished

Problem is, my painting tray is looking pretty cramped now as I wait for those transfer sheets to be released...

Wish me luck...

James

I am going for a difficult task this time around and trying to redeem myself after being the only dad not to complete the Spartan Challenge. Unfortunately dad life interrupted the good progress I was making on my Storm Raven as part of that challenge leaving it 75% done and worthy of a proper post at some point in the future.

To make up for this failure I am going for a finish to a project that has taken 18 months so far!! Yes I am going to try to finish my Flesh Tearers Death Company (Gulp).

I finished 5 of the 10 man squad recently...

I love the Death Company but I see them as seeking ascension through their actions rather than death - Seeking eternal life with their Primarch rather than despair through death so I decided to paint them white rather than black.

This was perhaps the best and worst idea I have had as the results are awesome - they really stand out on the tabletop and the details really show when you see them in real life. However, white is a true bastard to paint!!! So they take ages. Hence the 18 months so far.

So these are the other 5 to complete for the challenge...

Lots to do including finding arms for one!!! Best get cracking...

Rich

Rich is away for work so will have to post something when he gets back!

Steve

I currently have a few units half finished already that I will aim to complete for this challenge. They are:

   Tactical Squad

Terminator squad













I am also in the process of starting a Skitarii army so I think I will also aim to complete my single squad of Skitarii Rangers who, so far, haven't even been base coated...
Plenty to do.

Why not join in and share your unfinished projects?

The Four Dads